Starting as a Roger Pirates Apprentice-Chapter 443: As long as Fujitora and I are here, you will all die
"To think it would be..."
Even the usually steady Fujitora could not help but change expression when he heard those two names. Then realization dawned on him.
"If it’s those two monsters, then it wouldn’t be strange."
"Possessing the world’s two strongest Paramecia-type Devil Fruits, the Warp-Warp Fruit and the Tremor-Tremor Fruit. No wonder they were able to shatter this entire super-giant island."
Fujitora swept the area with his Observation Haki. From the shattered, ruined distribution of the surrounding sea, he could faintly sense just how terrifying that battle had been back then.
Even knowing it was the result of the two strongest Devil Fruits, when faced with such a miracle, no one could remain unmoved.
The Marines rapidly completed their deployment around the island. Marine warships docked among the gaps of the archipelago, ammunition crates were transported one after another, and cannons were raised high.
"This is the fastest route to the New World after leaving Fish-Man Island. Combined with the extensive deployment of our warships, we can definitely intercept Sadgeo."
On the turbulent sea, the Marines stood on full alert, constantly preparing and moving about.
Only Fujitora and Lucci, as the commanders, were able to stand somewhat calmly in place, gazing toward the direction of the Red Line.
Fujitora gripped his cane sword tightly. One of the Twelve Supreme Grade Blades, reflected a cold gleam along its icy blade.
He only hoped that not too many people would die in this war...
...
The Marines continued their intense preparations.
Around the third day,
Admiral Fujitora, who had been slurping noodles and was about to have another bowl, suddenly felt something stir in his heart.
He handed the bowl to the orderly.
"Thank you for the meal."
Carrying his cane sword, he went to the bow of the flagship. Lucci, draped in a white cloak, was already there, staring into the distance, seemingly doing who knew what.
Perhaps striking a pose.
Sensing Fujitora’s approach, Lucci turned his head.
"What is it?"
Fujitora did not stop. Instead, he walked straight to the very front of the deck. His white pupils opened slightly as he faced the distant sea.
"Something very big... is coming."
"What?!"
Lucci’s expression changed instantly. As if he realized something, his figure vanished from the spot in an instant.
The view pulled back, and like a chain reaction, the dense naval fleet at sea immediately shifted from a resting state into combat readiness.
Piercing sirens began to sound.
Fujitora, however, continued staring ahead, his face heavy with tension and beads of cold sweat.
"This is unbelievably excessive..."
After Fujitora issued the warning, everyone stood on full alert. The first strange sensation everyone felt was an inexplicable vibration.
Clatter, clatter, clatter...
Shelves in the supply holds began to shake violently, items toppling over.
Ripples began spreading across the sea surface, then turned into waves. The spray grew larger and larger, finally becoming tsunami-like giant waves.
"Something has appeared!!!"
Within the Buster Call formation were many veterans who had participated in the Summit War two years ago. Looking at the scene that resembled a natural disaster at every turn, their pupils trembled.
"What is this? Whitebeard is already dead!!!"
The gigantic waves surged toward the sky, then seemed ready to crash down.
At this critical moment, a figure remained calm. He slowly drew his cane sword, and a purple halo began to flare along the blade.
Several sword flourishes were unleashed, sending rings upon layers of purple light flying outward.
The purple glow projected into the seawater.
In an instant, the tsunami that had been pouring down was frozen in midair as if time itself had stopped, then rapidly fell back, pouring into the sea.
As the seawater receded, what appeared on the surface instead was an enormous ship that blotted out the sky.
Its entire body was wooden, damaged in many places, so massive it was like a small island.
The Marines stared at the appearance of this "monster," all of them gaping in shock.
"How can there be such a huge ship in this world?!"
The coating on Noah’s hull began to shatter, gradually revealing its true form.
Even the aftershock of it stabilizing on the sea stirred waves dozens of meters high.
"It’s here!!!"
Fujitora tightened his grip on his sword. His Observation Haki instantly locked onto the massive ship in the distance, as well as every figure aboard it.
Lucci also arrived at his side. In the howling wind, he held down his hat, his gaze fixed firmly on the enemy ahead.
He spoke coldly.
"So this is where we finally corner you... Dark Sun Sadgeo!!!"
Under the tense gazes of countless Marines, at the bow of that absurdly gigantic ship, a giant wearing a straw hat appeared, a smile on his face.
"Hehehe... you’re the people of the World Government, huh? You’re really annoying."
The fish-man warriors who had boarded the ship struggled up to the railing and peeked their heads out.
With just one glance, their faces turned green.
Across the surrounding archipelago, endless Marine warships had completely sealed off the sea. Using the scattered islands’ terrain advantages, they lay in wait to snipe this giant vessel.
But Sadgeo seemed to not see the overwhelming firepower and warships at all.
His gaze even skipped over the Marine Headquarters Vice Admirals and went straight to Fujitora at the front. Lucci only received a cursory glance.
That look infuriated Lucci. Veins bulged across his forehead.
"Still don’t understand?"
Lucci’s eyes were icy.
"A rookie pirate with a bounty of 1.1 billion, [Dark Sun], and these fish-man subordinates of yours..."
"As long as [Fujitora] and I are here, you’re all going to die!!!"
"Is that so~"
Hearing this, Sadgeo seemed completely unconcerned. He held his straw hat, still smiling brightly.
Just as Lucci was about to say something more, Fujitora stepped forward first.
"Against an enemy of such size, close-range combat would result in too many casualties. Allow this old man to end it quickly."
As he spoke, he violently swung his sword, sending several rings of purple light shooting straight into the sky.
Before long, a point of light in the heavens began to grow brighter and larger.
"Th-that is?!"
Growing larger and larger, descending from outer space, it was unmistakably a burning meteor!!!
For the soldiers following Fujitora for the first time, witnessing this meteor-from-the-heavens technique left many of them with legs so weak they nearly collapsed.
Sadgeo, however, was unhurried. He looked up at the sky.
"A bit dazzling, Shirahoshi!!!"
"I... I understand, Sadgeo-sama."
Shirahoshi, wearing a bubble ring around her waist, panicked at first upon hearing the call, then clasped her chest and began to pray.
Immediately after, a horrifying scene appeared.
A gigantic mouth, a thousand meters wide, like a bottomless abyss, slowly opened from the surface of the sea, stretching toward the sky!!!
